Look Back To 1958: What Happened That Year

Munich, the first motorway and Cliff Richard's 'Move It'.

Here's 1958 in full - the music, the news, the screen, the sport and the ordinary details. Good for a birthday card, a party quiz round or a reminiscence session.

In the charts in 1958

• Cliff Richard's 'Move It' arrived in the autumn and is often called the first real British rock and roll record.
• Elvis Presley's 'Jailhouse Rock' entered the chart at number one in January, the first single to do so in Britain.
• Conway Twitty's 'It's Only Make Believe' was number one at Christmas.

In the news in 1958

• The Munich air disaster on 6 February killed 23 people, including eight Manchester United players.
• The Preston bypass, Britain's first stretch of motorway, opened in December.
• The Notting Hill disturbances took place in August and September.
• The first Aldermaston march against nuclear weapons was held at Easter.

On screen in 1958

• Blue Peter began on 16 October.
• Grandstand and Oh Boy! also started during the year.
• Carry On Sergeant, the first Carry On film, was released.

In sport in 1958

• Manchester United reached the FA Cup final months after Munich and lost to Bolton.
• Wolverhampton Wanderers won the league.
• Mike Hawthorn became Britain's first Formula One world champion.

Everyday life in 1958

• Parking meters appeared in London for the first time.
• Hula hoops were the craze of the year.
• Stereo records went on sale in Britain.

If you were born in 1958

• Anyone born in 1958 is the same age as Blue Peter and the first British motorway.
• They were born the year of the Munich air disaster.
• Anyone born in 1958 turns 30 in 1988, 40 in 1998, 50 in 2008, 60 in 2018 and 70 in 2028.
• For a milestone card, the strongest line is usually the number one from the week they were born rather than the year's biggest events - it's personal, and it takes two minutes to find.
• For a reminiscence session, read one section at a time and stop on whatever gets a reaction. The point is the conversation, not the facts.

Shop birthday cards

How to write it so it lands

• The number one from the week they were born beats the year's headlines on a card.
• Read one section at a time in a reminiscence session and stop where the conversation starts.
• Use it as a guess-the-year round by reading three facts and hiding the date.

Where to shop next

• Look back to 1959
• Look back to 1957
• Look back to 1956
• Look back to 1955
• The 1950s: the whole decade
• 1950s party playlist
• Wartime and 1950s party games
• Playground games by region
• Clapping games and skipping rhymes
• Seaside and beach games
• Sweets that disappeared
• The 2020s so far
• The 2010s: the whole decade
• The 2000s: the whole decade
• The 1990s: the whole decade
• The 1980s: the whole decade
• The 1970s: the whole decade
• The 1960s: the whole decade
• The 1940s: the whole decade
• The 1930s: the whole decade
• The 1920s: the whole decade
• Decade calendar: every year from 1920
• Decade trivia: fun facts by era
• Decade trivia game: play for points
• Decade guides: books, films and TV by era
• Decade recipes: dishes and food trends by era
• Decade travel: destinations and holidays by era
• Decade tech: gadgets and computers by era
• Decade films: best movies and directors by era
• Decade art: artists, styles and trends by era
• Decade books: best novels, authors and reading trends
• Music by decade: albums, artists and songs
• Decade fashion: clothes, hair and accessories by era
• Nostalgia gift shop
• Retro party supplies
• Nostalgia birthday party by decade
• Nostalgia hamper and gift ideas
• Guess the year quiz
• Care home reminiscence quiz
• Reminiscence gifts for grandparents
• Milestone birthday cards
• Shop birthday cards
• Planning the party? Birthday party ideas
• How to make a balloon arch
• Photo booth prop ideas
• Pin badges
• All guides

Frequently asked questions

When did Blue Peter start?

16 October 1958.

What was the first British motorway?

The Preston bypass, now part of the M6, opened on 5 December 1958. The M1 followed in November 1959.

How old is someone born in 1958?

Subtract 1958 from the current year. They turn 40 in 1998, 50 in 2008, 60 in 2018 and 70 in 2028.

Do you sell anything to do with this year?

We make greeting cards, art prints and pin badges in the UK, including milestone birthday cards. This page itself is free to read and free to copy.